1 P aul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

2 A nd to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

3 G race to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 H earing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

6 T hat the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

7 F or we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 W herefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

9 Y et for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

11 W hich in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

12 W hom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

13 W hom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

14 B ut without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

15 F or perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,

16 N ot now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 I f thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

18 I f he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

20 Y ea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 H aving confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

22 B ut withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 T here salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 M arcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 T he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.